The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-14
In Which the Mitchelstown Affair Is Again
Considered, and Mr.. Labouci1ere Denoun-
ces the Police as Liars and Murderers.
Parnell Fears that His Countrymen May
Resort to Wild Acts Of Revenge.
Russia Threatens Abrogation Of the Berlin
Treaty in Case the Pending Bulgarian
Negotiations Fail-Notes by Cable.


O'Brien's imprisonment and the s1itchels-
town ARRAY Under Discussion.
LONDON Sept 13-In the House oe Commons
to-day, Mr.. Graham assailed the House of Lords.
He was sternly rebuked by the Speaker. but
again attacked the upper house for daring TO
dictate to the men elected by the people.
The Speaker demanded apology for this
direct disregard of his authority. Mr. Graham
said: ST regret this matter. but in conscience
cannot apologize."
The Speaker thereupon named him. Mr.. Gra-
ham assured the speaker he had no intention of
being rude to him. but the Speaker interrupted
him abruptly, declining to accept q personal
apology.
After Mr. Harrington had been called to or
der and made an angry reply to the Speakers
warning, the latter. with qniet dignity, said:
''Mr Harrington, name you"
W. 81. Smith, the government leader immedi-
ately moved that he be suspended. and the mo-
ton was greeted with ironical laughter by the
Parnellites and cries of "Hear the bookseller"
referring to Smiths proprietorship of numerous
book-stalls il London. Mr. Harrington with
drew during the division Smiths motion.
Right Hon. William Henry Smith. Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer, replying to question said
the attention of the government had been called
to a statement contained in the Dublin weekly
News, TO the effect that it would continue to
publish reports of meetings of such branches of
the Irish National League the governments
might order suppressed, TO show the futility
of the governments attacks on the league.
This paper. Mr.. Smith said, belonged to
the Lord Mayor of Dublin, S. D. Sullivan.
who was also a member of the House of Com
mons and Justice of the peace for Dublin.
Nevertheless, If any of the threatened publishing
actually took place. the government would take
steps to vindicate the law. John Phillip No
Ian, Home ruler, asked if it was true that Will
lam O'Brien was confined in cell nine by four
feet. and if Mr.. Balfour, Chief Secretary for
Ireland, meant to order reasonable accormoda-
tion for the prisoner
Mr.. Balfour said he had no knowledge respect
ing the nature of the cell occupied by O'Brien
OF course, 1t was his tBalfour's) desire that
O'Brien be comfortably confined, and the prison
rules provided that untried prisoners should
have reasonable accommodations
Mr.. Nolan said he hoped the government
would relax the prison rules applicable to politi
cal offenders in Ireland, and especially urged
modification of the degrading duties enforced
on common criminals.
John Dillon said it was manifest the govern
ment had power to infliet punishment upon
political opponents, especially members of the
Irish party, who therefore had right to dem and
security that they would not be treated like
pickpockets His own experience political
prisoner in Ireland was that the food was mete1
out on the starvation system in the Irish jails
If OBrien was confined in ordinary cell it
was cruel, as he was in delicate health. He
Dillon was convinced the people of England
the government gave political prisoners. If the
government persisted In this course of treat
ment they would arouse a storm of hate they
would find difficult to quell
Mr. Balfour said he unable to see that Of
fenses or persons arrested under the crimes act
differed from offenses under ordinary law. Any
alteration IN the treatmens OF prisoners ought
to be applied after due inquiry. All prisoners
should be treated alike regarding prison disci-
pliue He had some difficulty in reconciling the
statements now made with language formerly
used by Irish mem bers to the effect that if the
crimes act were enforced the bulk of the prison
ers put in Jail under its provisions
would be better off than outside the
prisons. He was unable to conceive how the Irish
mem bers could make any distinction between
prison treatment of persons under arrest for in
citing people to crime and outrage. and that
given those under arrest for committing crime
and outragee. O'Brien had only himself TO
thank for being now in custody. If he had ap-
peared in court at Mtchelstown to answer the
sum mons commanding him to appear there and
answer the charge against him, even if
victed, he might have remained at large prior
to adjudication of the appeal. CONSERVATIVE
cheers.
John Morley. Liberal, said the action of the
Irish members was due to the nature of the ex-
ceptionai law forced on the people of their
country, OF the consequences of which the gov
ernmeut had been amply warned of. In no for
eign country were political offenders subjected
to the harsh discipline applied to political prison
ers in Ireland. What the government had al
ready done showed it was their intention
to rule Ireland during the re-
cess in the most vigorous manner possible
under the coercion act He urged the govern
mont to reconsider their refusal to grant an in
quiry into the conduct Of the police at Mitehels-
town. If the government would not concede a
committee OF Parliament to make inquiry,
1t was at least desirable that official investi-
CATION be made to satisfy the public mind. The
to the police against resorting to the of fire.
arms against the people, excepting in the last
extremity.
Mr.. Labouchere denounced the police account
of the Mitchelstown affray gross, impudent
tissue of lies. and characterized the men who is
sued the account as liars we'll murderers.
He demanded an impartial inquiry into the out
rage
Mr.. Parnell said nothing reflected more dis
credit the government than the present
treatment OF political prisoners The late Mr..
Forster treated his prisoners with distinguished
Now the government tried to strike
terror in the hearts of their opponents by treat
ing their political prisoners like criminals OF the
elstowu affair, Mr.. Parnell declared
no government reporters were eyer molested at
any of the thousands of meetings which had
been held by the Irish National League in Ire
and The meeting at Mitchelstown was equally
open TO these reporters. The police acted like
,owards and were part of a system which was a
reign of terror within prison. and of murder
outside. Instead of coneeding ireland's
right to manage her own affairs, the
had taken her by the throat,
md was trying to strange her.
IN conclusion, Mr.. Parnell said he wished Mr..
0alfour well. outside of his job tIrish cheersI.
My only fear is," added the Irish leader, 'lest
ome nnen become exasperated as to commit
Wild acts of revenge. / will continue, however,
% urge my countrymen to be patient in endur-
lnce Of wrong and suffering. until they get home
ue.n [cheers.
The appropriation bill was passed to its third
eading and the House adjourned until Friday
,exs when Parliament will be prorogued.
rhe Suspension of Graham and Harrington.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Sept. 13.-The suspension in the